“The power is secured, first ore produced and the concentrator switched on and we are on schedule for first commercial production in the first half of the year. We continue to work together with all stakeholders including the Government of Mongolia to bring the benefits of Oyu Tolgoi to all parties,” said a Rio spokesman.

A report Wednesday on Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, said Rio was considering a plan to shut the $6 billion mine as part of negotiations with the government over changes to a 2009 investment agreement that governs the project. Several Mongolian politicians have made calls to increase the government’s payout from the project, changes Rio has resisted. Shutting the mine would halt payments the government receives from import duties on equipment and would delay its eventual dividend payments from the mine.